by R. L. Morrison

"Truly, truly, I say unto you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:5).

Jesus spoke these words to Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, who came to him by night. Nicodemus did not understand what Jesus said. Evidently, he thought Jesus referred to a physical birth, for he asked: "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?" Of course, he was mistaken. Jesus did not refer to a physical birth, but to a spiritual birth. However, there are those today who make the same mistake as did Nicodemus. They accept the birth of the Spirit (their own definition of it) but reject the birth of water as an unessential thing.

Let's examine some words in John 3:5. First: the word "unless". It means except or without. Water: It needs not be defined, all know what it is. "Spirit" means the Holy Spirit; "cannot": it is not possible; "The kingdom of God": the New Testament church; the family or household of God: those who are saved. With these definitions, let us paraphrase the passage: "Without being born again of water and the Holy Spirit it is not possible for one to be saved or become a member of the family of God.

Jesus told Nicodemus that the birth of which he spoke is not fleshly, but is of water and the Spirit. One (water) is the agent; the other (the Spirit) is the instrument in producing this new birth. The new birth did not occur until the day of Pentecost as referred to in Acts 2. On that day, the Holy Spirit spoke through the apostles, and their words produced faith in the hearts of some who heard. Those who believed were pricked in their hearts, and cried out "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Peter's reply was: "Repent and be baptized, every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." About 3000 of those who heard obeyed what they were told to do, and Luke records that those who did obey not only received the remission of their sins but were added by the Lord to the church (Acts 2:38-47). Much later, Paul wrote that the church is the house of God, or the household, family, of God, and that it is the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Tim. 3:15).

The Holy Spirit directed the apostles in revealing God's plan for the redemption of all mankind. This message was fully revealed by the apostles. Jesus told them, "When the Spirit of truth is come he will guide you into all truth" (John 16:13). Later, Peter wrote: "According as his divine power hath given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness ..." (2 Peter 1:3). The scriptures reveal all anyone needs to know or can ever know about obtaining forgiveness of sins and eventually eternal life. There is no other source of information available to mankind.

In view of this, consider again John 3:5. Unless a man is born again of BOTH water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven, or receive the remission of his sin.

That the birth of water is baptism is very apparent. Baptism is the ONLY use of water to be found in the New Testament. In Acts 8, Luke recorded the account of Philip preaching to a man of Ethiopia. The man was reading from Isaiah 53. The record says that Philip began at this scripture and preached unto him Jesus. As they went on their way, the man said to Philip, "See here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?" He then confessed his faith in Christ and Philip baptized him. It is interesting to note that when Philip preached Jesus, he preached baptism. Many who claim to preach Jesus today do NOT preach baptism as did the men who were inspired by the Holy Spirit. One is made to wonder where they get their information, as they, by their preaching, claim to know more than God has seen fit to reveal.

In Acts 10, Peter was commanded to go preach the gospel to the Gentiles. He did so at the home of Cornelius. As he began to speak to these people, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. Although Peter and the brethren with him were astonished at this, he asked: "Can any man forbid water that these should not be baptized? Even though the Holy Spirit had fallen upon these Gentile people, they needed to be born again of water... baptized in water, as the Spirit directed, to enter the kingdom.

Every example of conversion in the New Testament ended in the baptism of a penitent, confessing believer in Jesus Christ. They all heard the gospel delivered by the inspired men, as the Spirit guided or directed them to speak. And as in the beginning, those who believed the gospel were baptized, born of water and the Spirit (or according to the instruction of the Spirit), and receiving the forgiveness of sins, were added by the Lord to the church or kingdom. Or: "delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the kingdom of his dear Son" (Col. 1:13).

This is not acceptable to the majority of the religious world of today. God's plan for man's salvation has been replaced by doctrines that had their origin in the minds of men.

Consider what many teach today. Salvation is by faith only, minus nothing, plus nothing. Others: Salvation is received in answer to prayer. Have you ever watched a TV evangelist lead a group of people in what he calls The sinners prayer"? And then he tells them they are saved! Just remember this: Jesus said "Except a man be born again of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

Most, if not all of those who teach otherwise, disregard and avoid the text. Those who teach salvation at the point of faith cannot refer to it, for it exposes the error of what they teach. Those who teach universal salvation cannot refer to it for the same reason. The same is true of those who teach that salvation is obtained through prayer. Many different doctrines are widespread in today's religious world. But regardless of who may teach contrary to what Jesus said as recorded in John 3:5, or how many people, sincere and honest as they may be, believe the error, it does not and cannot change what he said. This passage has stood the test of time for almost 2000 years. If time continues for another 2000 years (or more), this scripture, John 3:5, will continue to teach the same thing!

We have shown that being born of water and the Spirit is being baptized in water according to the teaching of the Holy Spirit. This is sometimes called the "New Birth", but both phrases refer to the same thing.

In Acts, we find every example of conversion recorded in the New Testament. Beginning at Pentecost, people heard, believed and obeyed. They were baptized (buried) in water for or in order to receive the remission of sins. They understood this was necessary in order to be saved. In Acts 8, we find the account of Philip preaching to a man from Ethiopia. Philip preached Christ to him and when he understood, he expressed his desire to be baptized. Philip, upon his confession of faith, baptized the man. He was born again.

In Acts 9, we find the account of Saul of Tarsus, a persecutor of the church. He was on a journey to Damascus, when the Lord (Jesus) appeared to him. He was told to go to Damascus, where he would be told what to do. The Lord sent Ananias to him, who told him to arise and be baptized and wash away his sins, calling on the name of the Lord. He obeyed and was born again. He became the apostle to the Gentiles.

In Acts 10-11, we find the account of the Gentiles being given the opportunity to hear the gospel. Peter was sent to do the preaching. In the course of their conversion, Peter asked: "Can any man forbid water that these should not be baptized?" And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Thus they were born again.

And so it is with every example of conversion in the New Testament: those who heard and obeyed were baptized in water in the name of the Lord. In so doing, they were born again.

Now, have you been born again of water and the Spirit? If not, you have not entered the kingdom of heaven! You have no spiritual relationship with God. You are OUTSIDE the kingdom in which the forgiveness of sins is available. The result of this, unless a change is made in your life, is the eternal loss of your soul!

Are you born again?